Pterodon emarginatus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Commilobium polygaliflorum
• Pterodon polygaliflorus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Pterodon, with its species designation being emarginatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions within the South American continent. Its distribution begins in Western South America, where it is specifically found in Bolivia. A significant portion of its range is concentrated in Brazil, covering the North and Northeast territories. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the West-Central and Southeast regions of Brazil. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental niches this medicinal plant occupies.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pterodon emarginatus is characterized by its adaptation to diverse Brazilian biomes, primarily occurring within the Cerrado (latu sensu), as well as in Atlantic Forest (Floresta Ciliar) environments or within gallery forests (Galeria). This distribution allows the species to occupy varied ecological niches, ranging from the open, seasonal landscapes of the tropical savanna to the more humid, sheltered environments found along riparian corridors. Its presence in these habitats suggests a capacity to thrive in both well-drained soils typical of the Cerrado and the more moisture-retentive substrates associated with gallery forests, playing a functional role in the structural complexity and biodiversity of these distinct ecosystems.

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria

Life history

The life history of Pterodon emarginatus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous species, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage, typically in response to changing environmental conditions or temperature fluctuations, before entering a period of dormancy. This cyclical pattern of growth and leaf loss is central to its survival strategy, enabling the plant to manage resources effectively throughout its long-lived life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pterodon emarginatus is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 12 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 15 m. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor existing as an epiphyte. In terms of its structural support and habit, the plant is categorized as self-supporting, lacking the climbing tendencies of lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pterodon emarginatus is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic process involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for most woody species in its taxonomic group. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pterodon emarginationus is driven by biotic mechanisms, specifically through a pollination syndrome that relies on living organisms to facilitate genetic exchange. The process is characterized by biotic pollination, where the transfer of pollen is mediated by biological agents rather than abiotic factors like wind or water. Within this framework, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination to ensure successful fertilization. This insect involvement encompasses a diverse range of pollinators, including bees, beetles, ants, butterflies, moths, and flies, all of which play a critical role in the reproductive cycle by transporting pollen between individual plants.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pterodon emarginatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit.

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Chemicals

Pterodon emarginatus has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hederagenin, Luteolin 7-O-rutinoside, Schaftoside, Soyasaponin Bb, Soyasaponin Be.

Hederagenin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Luteolin 7-O-rutinoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Schaftoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Soyasaponin Bb

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Soyasaponin Be

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Vicenin 2

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

coumarin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

farnesol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Pterodon emarginatus has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Bronchodilator, Tonic.

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bronchodilator

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tonic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Pterodon emarginatus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Mycobacterium bovis, analgesic, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Mycobacterium bovis

1. Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Analgesic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Pterodon emarginatus has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil (EO), chloroform, ethanol extract (EthE), ethyl acetate, hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs).

Essential oil (eo)

1. Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chloroform

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanol extract (ethe)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethyl acetate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroalcoholic extracts (haes)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

N-hexane

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)